Poaching In Zambia

Published: September - 1999

We have been copied on some very bad reports of poaching in Zambia's Bangweulu Swamp, famous for its black lechwe and to a lesser extent for it sitatunga. In all, three subscribers filed critical reports this month, a remarkable number to be received in such a short time. "Sitatunga are being heavily poached by local hunters," Jeff Eberhard writes. "We heard gunshots every time we entered the swamp - also saw campfires from poachers in the swamp." Subscriber E. J. Deubler reports similar sightings of poachers and fishermen, and says sitatunga were very scarce.

The most alarming report, however, is from Ghassan Jabre who copied us on the following letter to the Director of National Parks in Zambia. Jabre's concern is mostly for the black lechwe he came to Bangweulu to hunt: "I have recently returned from a Safari to Zambia. Part of my hunt was carried out in Bangweulu Swamp where I witnessed an alarming and shocking rate of poaching carrying on in that area. I could not but write to express to you my concern. The poaching I witnessed was mostly carried out by people posing as innocent fishermen. They were not shooting the lechwe; they were using viciously trained dogs, which they unleash to go chase and kill animals.

During the five days I spent in Bangweulu, the scouts, upon the urging and insistence of PH Guy Robinson, destroyed 11 of these dogs. In the small area we were hunting, we estimated that 25 lechwe were being killed by poachers every day!!! This is alarming to say the least. The black lechwe exist only in this part of the world, and at the rate the killing is going on, it will not be long before these beautiful animals will be wiped out. I feel that your department has an enormous responsibility to protect the black lechwe, for the sake of Zambia and the entire world. You are entrusted with the future of these animals! I urge you to act promptly...!"